Reformed church Christians propose sacramental union

Representatives of Reformed churches from diverse traditions have voted to form a union which is unprecedented in its inclusiveness and overcomes longstanding divisions among some churches.

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	Members of the global Reformed family sing at outdoor celebration to mark historic meeting which set the course for a new global communion of churches. (Photo: WARC/Greenaway)

The executive committees of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC), meeting jointly for the first time in Geneva in May, approved a draft constitution for the new organization to be called the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC).

Use of the word “communion” implies that member denominations of the new organization will accept the ordination of each others’ clergy and respect the rites of each tradition. The draft constitution for the new organization says “no individual or church may claim precedence or dominance over another.”

“The decision is in line with John Calvin’s commitment to Christian unity,” says Setri Nyomi, WARC’s General Secretary. “It signals that WARC members are ready to do their part.”

The draft constitution will be presented for approval at the Uniting General Council (UGC) to be held in the United States in June 2010.

Other decisions by the joint executive committees include approval of a plan to eliminate the budget deficit by 2011 and the outline of a proposed structure for WCRC, subject to approval by the UGC.

“Our objective was to create a sustainable model for the new organization”, says WARC President Clifton Kirkpatrick. “To achieve this we had to make some difficult decisions such as reducing the size of the staff. But we are confident that we have a good basis now on which to build for the future.”

The joint executive committees also accepted a report recommending that the WCRC operate from the current WARC offices in Geneva. The report suggests the decision could be revisited three years after WCRC is created. For now, says the report, “It was deemed wisest to focus on planning for the WCRC and our world assembly.”